Plan To Curb Gas Emissions Gets Extension On Deadline

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - WASHINGTON

August 16, 1993

The White House has extended President Clinton's mid-August deadline for a plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions, with debate continuing over what sectors of the economy should shoulder the reductions.

One option that isn't likely to make the plan is requiring new cars to be more fuel efficient, administration officials said.

Clinton promised in his campaign to raise the required fleet average from the current 27.5 miles per gallon to 40 miles per gallon by the year 2000. So far he has not moved to fulfill the promise.

Officials said it was a politically charged step, hotly opposed by automakers because of the cost to design more fuel-efficient cars. And they argued it would not be as cost-effective as other steps the administration could take to lower emissions.

The administration wanted to have a plan to discuss with other nations this week in Geneva at a meeting on the global warming treaty.

However, the plan will not be done until September, said Marla Romash, spokeswoman for Vice President Al Gore.

''The administration made the decision to hold back and make absolutely certain that both the environmental and economic analysis is absolutely solid,'' she said.

But one White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the plan would include ''voluntary with teeth'' measures - meaning companies and industries that chose not to improve their energy efficiency could face loss of government benefits or incentives.

Many scientists believe carbon, methane and other emissions - commonly referred to as greenhouse gases - are contributing to an environmentally harmful warming of the Earth's climate.